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DUNEDIN, FLA.—Following 100 minutes of on-again, off-again rain on Friday, the Jays and Orioles were finally able to play their game. However, the home team played minus the bat of Jose Bautista. The right fielder, who had been in the original starting lineup, reported tightness of the right hamstring. The late scratch likely had a lot to do with the wet field. The Jays posted a 5-4 win.

Perhaps more alarming was the news on Brett Cecil’s shoulder. The left-hander with closing aspirations was scheduled to pitch for the Jays on Friday, but was scratched with what was described as shoulder soreness. He is on the board to pitch next on March 9.

The fact that Bautista, in the first four games of the spring, has accumulated just three plate appearances does not look good, but should not be a major concern. With a rain-soaked outfield after a lengthy delay, and with all the young dudes still in camp, it was a perfect time for Bautista to take a day off. Taking his place alongside Kevin Pillar and Chris Colabello was non-roster outfielder Caleb Gindl.

In rehab news, ahead of the rain, for the second day in a row injured outfielder Michael Saunders emerged from the clubhouse to throw on the field with trainer George Poulis. It seems the Victoria, B.C. native is attempting to push ahead the scheduled date of his return from knee surgery, from mid-April to opening day. It was originally thought he would be out until mid-July. Is there a danger he is rushing back too quickly, after having 60 per cent of his left meniscus removed on Feb. 26.

“He stood in (at the plate) when pitchers were throwing their bullpens (on Thursday), so he was tracking some balls,” manager John Gibbons said of the Saunders fast-track. “It’s really surprising because we thought the first half. The doctors, the trainers put together a program for him. He’s pushing it a little bit, but he’s also a smart kid. Any setbacks, it’s going to be that much longer.”

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If Saunders does, in fact, return to the Jays’ lineup some time in April, and with the solid play thus far of Pillar and centre-field leading candidate Dalton Pompey, the four-man composition of the outfield may no longer be one of the pressing questions that needs to be answered.

Among the position players, however, second base has the most choices that make sense. Among the candidates are rookie Devon Travis, homegrown Ryan Goins, returning infielders Mune Kawasaki, Maicer Izturis and Steve Tolleson, plus veteran non-roster free-agent Ramon Santiago.

Santiago is non-roster, but the 35-year-old Dominican has the most experience of all the candidates as a major-league utility infielder. In his 13-year career for the Tigers, M’s and Reds, he has played 505 games at shortstop, 341 at second base and 75 at third base. He has impressed those that matter thus far.

“He’s a proven veteran,” Gibbons said of Santiago. “He’s one of those guys you throw out there, you don’t have to worry about him. He’s been around a long time, but he’s still moving around good. He’s strong. He’s got some sneaky pop in that bat. He’s not just a little Punch-and-Judy type. He’s a natural shortstop and looks like he can still do that. He might be very valuable to us.”

Keeping Santiago would mean a one-year commitment with little risk. Over the past six seasons, he has played between 75 and 112 games each year. His presence on the major-league roster as a middle infield utility player would allow Goins to play every day at Triple-A Buffalo, with the $4-million Izturis having the first chance to play every day. Santiago started against the O’s at second base, making a diving stop and throwing from his knees up the middle.

“Today, I feel pretty good at the plate,” Santiago said afterwards. “I hit a couple of balls hard, one base hit. I’m working hard in the cage, trying to work on my hitting. Everything’s coming the way I want. This team, if everybody stays healthy, is an opportunity for me to do my best and try to make this team. I have in my mind to make this team, because I want to be part of this team.”

As they do at the start of every spring training, GM Alex Anthopoulos and manager Gibbons have a face-to-face meeting with all the players in camp and give them a candid assessment of their roles and chances of breaking with the big club.

“(Alex) said I have a good opportunity, and just go out there and try and do my best to win a (spot),” Santiago said. “It’s a great opportunity for me and I want to take advantage. Part of my game is to make sure I take care of the defence. I always take a lot of pride in defence.”

And then, of course, there’s the ongoing training camp storyline of Russell Martin and his attempt to become a capable and trusted receiver for R.A. Dickey’s knuckleball. Dickey pitched two no-hit innings against the O’s and both men said all the right things afterwards. Stay tuned.

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